BBC Overhauls Strictly Come Dancing for 2026

BBC bosses are overhauling Strictly Come Dancing ahead of its 2026 series, with reports indicating that five professional dancers have been dropped from the lineup and plans underway for a new presenting team following the departure of longtime hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

The changes come after Daly and Winkleman announced in December that they were stepping away together after more than two decades on the show. Daly, who had co-hosted since 2004, described Strictly as feeling like a third child and a second family, emphasizing the joy and celebration it brought to audiences. Winkleman joined her in 2014, succeeding the late Sir Bruce Forsyth. Their exit has prompted producers to explore innovative formats, including the possibility of a three-presenter lineup to inject fresh energy into the program.

Sources close to the production say executives are considering a mix of male and female hosts to revive the show's appeal. Potential candidates include Alex Jones from The One Show, who is viewed as a leading contender to take on a role similar to Daly's on the studio floor, as well as Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, Alison Hammond, Angela Scanlon, Emma Willis, and Fleur East....